Mob Yandere

Book 6 Epilogue, (1)

book 6 epilogue, (1)

hotoya tamaki walked along the veranda of the house, feeling gloomy and melancholy.

it would have been inevitable, but confirming it was terrifying beyond words. tamaki was afraid that everything she had known up until now would crumble beneath her.

so she hesitated to open the sliding doors that stood at the end of the corridor. her feet do not move, and she stands there in a daze.

"miss..." the younger maid by her side called out to her, her voice laced with concern.

tamaki tries to act strong, but it is in vain. it was futile, because a fearful thought came into her mind.

if all her doubts were true, would this friend really stay by her side? tamaki couldn't shake off that fear, even though she understood that it was a rude question to ask.

so there was an awkward silence as they avoided each other's gazes...

"ah!" tamaki let out a sudden gasp as she felt a warm hand on hers.

fearfully, she turns her gaze to her friend. there she was, looking straight at her with a strong-willed gaze that born from her strong will.

"don't worry. i am on your side, miss ," her friend said reassuringly, her words as comforting as her unwavering gaze.

with just those words, tamaki felt her heart lighten. she felt a gentle yet strong push on her back.

"...then. i'm off." the young lady of hotoya's face, once shadowed with doubt and fear, now beamed with confidence.

she walked along the corridor and stepped into the room beyond the sliding doors, her footsteps echoing down the hall...

...

...

...

tamaki entered her father's study, which was neat and tidy. it was not a small place, but it was not wasteful, and the furnishings were well-arranged.

tamaki looked around the room, which was well-harmonized and showed that her father had an eye for aesthetics. she had been in this room many times since she was a child and remembered it vividly.

so, before her father could say anything, she made a request. she bowed deeply with her hands on the tatami mat behind her and pleaded humbly.

"as of today, i, hotoya tamaki, will leave the family. please forgive me."

her tone was calm and detached, thanks to the many times she had practiced beforehand. nevertheless, turmoil, sadness, and loneliness still swirled inside her.

the repeated attacks by youkai on the village...even if there was a separate reason behind it, it was a problem for the villagers. the suspicion could lead to distrust towards the village leader. it was necessary to put out the fire. and for that, a scapegoat was needed.

tamaki, who had shown that she possessed spiritual power and even stayed in the village with iruka, but then left on her own accord while taking on the role of the harvest festival's shrine maiden, had committed an act that was by no means acceptable. she was a suitable sacrifice. rather, it was strange that she was not expelled from the village.

that is why tamaki herself wished to be expelled from the village. she had received such advice from the messenger of onitsuki who had visited recently. she had offered herself before being disowned by her family. it was for tamaki's honor and for her heart. it was also painful for her to be ordered to leave by her beloved father, even though they were not related by blood.

the room fell silent once again. the quietness was like a death sentence for tamaki. what would she be told? would she be scolded? would she be ridiculed? would she be accused of repaying kindness with betrayal? these fears tormented her.

"...i have to prepare your luggage," said her father, his words overflowing with kindness and unexpected from tamaki's expectations.

tamaki's eyes widened in surprise as she heard her father's unexpected kindness. "ah..."

"i also have to send you money. we rely on the exorcism family to take care of you, and we cannot burden them too much."

yoshinori's voice was gentle, yet tinged with a hint of sadness. "father...?" tamaki spoke, her voice trembling with emotion.

"tamaki, i don't know what you think of me. " yoshinori's voice was calm and reassuring as he continued. "maybe you're angry that you have been deceived until now. but i, and of course my wife and your brother, have never thought of you as a nuisance, nor have we ever thought of you as a stranger. i can assert with confidence that you are undoubtedly the daughter of this family."

yoshinori's eyes were full of love and affection as he spoke to his daughter. tamaki's heart swelled with emotion, and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

"you have given me, my wife, my sons, and everyone wonderful days." yoshinori reminisced, his voice filled with nostalgia. "at the same time, you have caused a lot of trouble for me. hahaha, children are said to be free-spirited, but as a girl, you were too energetic. "

yoshinori laughed merrily. and he remembered the days with the child in front of him.

she was a child who cried often at night. a picky eater from an early age. she was a child who often clung to her mother, but would get dirty outside in no time. conversely, she was not good at arts and crafts. she was a lively child who often competed with her brothers with a wooden sword. she had compassion and often massaged her father's shoulders. she was loved by everyone.

these were indeed precious days for him. they were precious family memories. even if they were not biologically related, that would not change. he would not let anyone deny it.

"b-but...! father... i have been causing trouble all the time!" tamaki's voice was filled with self-doubt and insecurity.